Holy Week

Holy Week is the most distinctive tradition that distinguishes Antigua from many other places in Guatemala . The Passion of Christ is commemorated by rituals such as the creation of special altars inside churches, the processions, the vigils, the Via Crucis, the making of andas ( decorated platforms made of wood) that will carry the sculptures throughout the city, and the alfombras (carpets) that decorate the steets where the processions pass. The processions are lines of the devoted, dressed in special robes, who accompany the images of Jesus of Nazareth, Virgin Mary, or other saints, which are being carried on the andas. These are carried on the shoulders of the men (for Jesus) or women (for Mary), and are accompanied by a band walking with them, which plays funereal compositions written by Guatemalan composers. The men are called "cucuruchos" for the shape of the hat they wear. Their robes are either purple or black depending upon the day and the saint being carried. The women do not wear a special robe; however they do wear either a white or black dress and must cover their head with a veil. The carpets are made of a variety of materials such as colored sawdust, flowers, fruits, and vegetables. They are made by the brotherhoods or families along the roads in front of their houses to honor the religious images.